Regular checkups are important, says Dr. Geller

Dr. Geller wants to know: is your child brushing his or her pearly whites twice a day? If yes, that’s fantastic! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for your child to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day (and visiting Dr. Geller of course).

If your child will be visiting the dentist for the first time, it’s important to bring them in after their first tooth comes through, and no later than their first birthday. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you have any questions about your little ones' dental health, or about your treatment at Geller Orthodontics, please give us a call at (972) 596-4502.

The importance of retainers, from Geller Orthodontics

If you recently completed treatment at Geller Orthodontics, our entire team would like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Mark Geller will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Geller instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team by calling (972) 596-4502 if you have any questions!

Ask Dr. Geller: Am I too old for braces?

Dr. Geller and our staff will tell you braces aren't just for kids anymore. Recently, our staff read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! Geller Orthodontics offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups, including adults.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches, and jaw joint pain.

The new techniques and appliances Dr. Geller uses greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. The days of metal bands wrapped around each of your teeth individually are long gone! During the initial examination, Dr. Geller and team will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs.

Don't worry - a large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it's never too late to improve their greatest asset: their smile. If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Geller would love to have you visit for a consultation. Give us a call to set one up!

Geller Orthodontics want to know: Who knows our noses?

Our new spring patient contest is up-and-running! Here's how it works: come into our office, match the nose to the employee and you win an iPod Nano. This contest will run for three months. Feel free to study each nose and try your hardest to guess right. If you have any questions, please give us a call!

GOOD LUCK!

Geller Orthodontics, supporting National Nutrition Month

March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it's National Nutrition Month. Every March, Dr. Mark Geller and thousands of dentists and orthodontists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Geller and our entire team at Geller Orthodontics want you to think obesity and periodontal disease, diabetes and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

We at Geller Orthodontics know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods here in Plano and surrounding communities.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you crave a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

• Expand your horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call!